The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-08
AFTER GEN. LEES SURRENDER.
The Confederate Commander at tho S,
hra,,,a Nfor,ant NJ TRIAL

The Confederate Commander ut tho Su.
preme Moment Of Trial.
After little general conversation had
been INDUCED In by those present, the
two letters were signed and delivered, and
the parties prepared to separate. Lee be-
fore parting asked Grant to notify Meade
of the surrender, fearing that fighting
might break out on that front and lives
be uselessly lost. This request was com.
piled with, and two Union officers were
sent through the enemy's Lines as the
shortest route to Meade-some of Lees
officers accompanying them to prevent
their being interfered with. At a little
before 4 o'clock Gen. Lee shook hands
with Gen. Grant. bowed to the other off,
GERS and with Col Marshall left the room.
One after another we followed and passed
out to the porch.
Lee signaled to his orderly to bring up
his horse, and while the animal was being
bridled the general stood on the lowest
step and gazed sadly in the direction of
the valley beyond where his army lay
now an army of prisoners. He smote his
hands together number of times in an
absent sort Of way; seemed not to see
the group of Union officers in the yard
who rose respectfully at his approach, and
appeared unconscious of everything about
him. ! appreciated the sadness which
overw ned him, and he had the per-
sonal - npathy Of every one who beheld
him at this supreme moment Of trial. The
approach of his horse seemed to recall him
from his reverie and he at once mounted.
Gen. Grant now stepped down from the
porch, and moving towards him, saluted
him by raising his hat. He was followed
in this act Of courtesy by all our. officers
present; Lee raised his hat respectfully in
acknowledgment and rode off to break the
sad news I'd the brave fellows whom he
had so long commanded.
Gen. Grant and his staff then mounted
and started for the headquarters camp,
which in the meantime had been pitched
near by. The news of the surrender had
reached the Union lines and the flring Of
salutes began at several points, but the
general sent orders at once to have them
stopped, and used these words in refer
ring to the occurrence: 'The war is over,
the rebels are our countrymen again, and
the best sign of rejoicing after the victory
will be to abstain from all demonstrations
IN the field.
Mr.. Mclean had been charging about
in a manner which indicated that the ex.
citement was shaking his system. to It's
nervous CENTER but his real trials did not
begin until the departure Of the chief
actors in the surrender. Then the relic
hunters charged down upon the manor
house and made various attempts to jump
MIR. McLean's claims to his own furni-
ture Sheridan set q good example, how
ever, by paying the proprietor twenty
dollars in gold for the table at which Lee
sat for the purpose of presenting it to Mrs.
Custer, and handed it over to her dashing
husband, who started off for camp bear
ing it upon his shoulder, and looking
like Atlas carrying the world. Ord paid
forty dollars for the table at which Grant
sat, and afterwards presented it to Mrs.
Grant, who modestly declined it and in
sisted that it should be given to Mrs Ord,
who then became its possessor. Bargains
were at once struck for all the articles in
the room, and it is even said that some
mementos were carried off in the shape of
flowers and other things for which no
6oin Of the realm was ever exchanged
Gen. Horace Porter in The Century.